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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Every year, hundreds of thousands of patients undergo corneal transplant operations, mostly because of eye injuries, eye infections or degenerative eye diseases. Transplant candidates today have the benefit of an advanced new laser technique, known as the Intralase-Enabled Keratoplasty (IEK). Because it is completely bladeless and uses an ultra-fast infrared laser, the procedure reduces risks commonly associated with traditional corneal transplants and allows for faster post-operative recovery.
IEK procedures employ the IntraLase® FemtoSecond Laser, one of the most advanced technological breakthroughs in the field of corneal transplantation in the last half century. The laser generates 60,000 pulses per second to create a beam of energy that is capable of making innovative incisions in the cornea with unprecedented accuracy. Using an “inside-out” technique, the laser makes a complex, uniquely shaped incision that matches the transplant tissue so precisely, it fits much like a puzzle piece.
This intricate, interlocking connection allows for a more stable wound by producing greater surface area for healing. A more stable graft means fewer sutures, which ultimately enables faster healing and better and earlier visual results for the patient.
The Traditional Method
Before IEK procedure were available, corneal transplants required the use of a “trephine,” a handheld instrument that was applied to the corneal surface to stamp out a layer of circular tissue. The tissue was then removed from the eye and replaced with a transplant that had to be grafted with several sutures. The sutures typically stayed in for at least one year, during which the patient was unlikely to achieve complete recovery.
Benefits of IEK: Safety, Precision and Effectiveness
The IntraLase® FS Laser, however, offers increased safety and better results. The surgeon begins the procedure by programming the laser to make highly precise incisions in both the patient’s cornea and the tissue to be transplanted to the eye. Using infrared energy, the laser produces two pieces of tissue that match one another exactly. When combined, the interlocking edges of the two pieces of tissue allow for a faster healing process—in better alignment and with greater stability. Fewer sutures are required to hold the tissue in place and they can be removed much earlier than one year. A rapid recovery allows patients to resume their daily activities more quickly with fewer risks of complications from potential graft displacement.
The strength of IEK transplants can be illustrated by comparing different methods of assembling furniture. Whereas traditional transplants can be likened to simply nailing two boards together, an IEK transplant is more like carving dovetail shapes in the two boards to interlock together for a stronger, sturdier connection.
Dr. William Boothe
Dr. William Boothe is a top ophthalmologist in refractive surgery, who performs IEK procedures at his clinic, the Boothe Eye and Laser Center, in Plano, Texas. If you think you may be a candidate for corneal transplant, call us at Boothe eye care today to set up a personal consultation with Dr. Boothe, who will examine your eyes and help you understand whether an IEK procedure is right for you.
For further information: Boothe Eye Care
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